CHALLENGE FOR SOUTH FLORIDA ARTISTS: Plein Air Impressionist Landscape Painting Contest

MIAMI - March 19, 2014 - PRLog -- (Miami, Wednesday, March 18, 2014).
The Children's Gallery and Arts Center in coordination with Who Art These People Gallery and Fernando Vallejo Fine Art Studio announce an Open Call To Artists to participate in the First Plein Air Painting Contest titled “Impressionist Landscapes”, to take place at Cauley Square, May 2014. Contestants will have two days to create one impressionist work, starting Saturday May 17 at 9: AM to Sunday May 18 at 5 PM; time in which all artworks will be juried. Live painting process will happen in front of the audience, so visitors can admire the creative process and skills of artists, without interfering with their work. The event is admission free to the audience.

The Contest will culminate with an Award Ceremony at 7:30 PM; an informal cocktail reception where the top three winners and the Honorable mention will be announced, and awards presented. During the Ceremony, artists will be allowed to sale their pieces in a silent auction format. 15% of the sales will be donated to the educational fund of The Children’s Gallery and Arts Center, the nonprofit organization organizing the contest. The competition will be taken as a platform to raise awareness of the value of the plastic arts in the quality of life of a community, and at the same time it will stress the importance of the Impressionist style, which recognizes the harmony between arts and nature. Cauley Square is the perfect venue for this to happen since it is an Historic Village kept pretty much like in 1900s surrounded by exuberant vegetation. Cauley square is located at 22400 SW Old Dixie Hwy. Miami, FL 33170.

Artist Edin Gutiérrez, from gallery Who Art These People, envisioned this challenge when he saw the natural landscapes of Cauley Square. He expressed his interest in the realization of the event. "This environment is perfect for painters. Natural open spaces like this put like a spell on artists, firing our creativity to higher levels. We are inviting professional painters and also art students to be part of this first contest, and later we will open another competition for younger creators”. Carlos Franco, another artist directing the contest alongside Fernando Vallejo, also hopes that this first competition will be a success and become an annual celebration of the Visual Arts. “We are rapidly building an atmosphere of multicultural and artistic exchange that will not only benefit South Florida artists but also the international arts community as well. Synergy is what we need the most”. Vallejo affirms that “Artists cannot be isolated. We need other creators nearby to grow, and by doing high quality events like this we will attract collectors and savvy audience.  We are now receiving attention from the media. An article written by journalist Enrique Flor about us was published in El Nuevo Herald, and CNN Spanish aired a strong segment made by journalist Adriana Hauser. All this exposure helps Cauley Square and our arts colony in it”.

Through these cultural activities like the Second Friday Art Walks and this contest, these artists are opening opportunities to creative people while educating others in matters of fine arts. Plein Air Impressionist Landscape Contest organizers are expecting a big crowd to enjoy this live competition; something that is not very common to see. Among the confirmed jurors are Jose Raul Alonso, a well-known art specialist, consultant and dealer and Ruben Geller, a reputable writer and art critic and Tori Arpad-Cotta, Art Instructor at FIU.

Personal registration required on site: $25.00 non-refundable fee per artist to book space. *Professional experience not required. * Each participant will receive a name tag. * Participants may bring their own materials, tools and equipment. *Materials and stands are also available for sale or rent on the site. Last day for registration: Friday, April 25, 2014. For more info in Spanish call Edin Gutierrez at 786.487.8998 and for info in English 305.258.9901.